This Friday, we’re in an introspective state of mind, with singer-songwriters being the bread and butter of this musical sandwich.
Flock of Dimes and Madi Diaz go hand in hand for some soul-searching, especially in this season when introspection is the norm. Jay Som also turns out a thoughtful new record focused on relationships of all stripes and emphasizes the theme by leaning into some really great collabs.
Finally, we have some “pure pop for sad people” from San Fran jangle band Telephone Numbers, who are the perfect sparkly thing to listen to on days when the air is crisp and the sun is bright and your heart is a little heavy but wants to be light. Let their sound lift you up as the record spins.
All, of course, are on vinyl versions with shades of lavender, citrus, turquoise (ooh la la) and more at your local record shop. Happy New Music Friday!
Best new albums out Oct. 10
Jay Som, Belong
Belong is the fourth studio album from Melina Duterte, known musically as Jay Som. She announced the album back in July, and from the get-go it was obvious that this was going to be special based on all the amazing collabs. The lead single “Float” features Jim Adkins (singer of Jimmy Eat World), and the two sound on-point. Jay Som also tapped Mini Trees, Soft Glas and Hayley Williams of Paramore to fill out the album’s synth-pop-leaning, indie-rock sound.
Milwaukee fans might have caught Jay Som’s opening set for Lucy Dacus not long after the album was announced and got a first listen to some of the new songs. For those eagerly awaiting the vinyl, you’ll be able to pick from a few different versions: limited lavender sky swirl vinyl, white vinyl and a VERY limited standard black test pressing/early bird vinyl version straight from Polyvinyl Records.
Flock of Dimes, The Life You Save
Flock of Dimes’ first new music since 2022 makes it clear from the start that this is a new epoch for her. To put it another way, she’s going through some stuff.
The tone and themes of the songs are about the struggles within the cycles of addiction and co-dependency. But, even so, these songs are super relatable and healing to anyone who might need some comfort. As she shares on Bandcamp and the opening lines of the lead track, “I did not enter this world afraid, and I refuse to leave it this way.”
The Sub Pop Mega Mart will offer up a really pretty double-LP version on citrus-colored vinyl over at their site.
Madi Diaz, Fatal Optimist
Madi Diaz is back with her seventh studio album, which directly follows 2024’s Grammy-nominated Weird Faith. Diaz’s folky singer-songwriter sound is the perfect companion for the fall weather and months to come, and her lyrics are always really powerful and honest (but, most of all, relatable.)
We’re excited to see new music from her so soon and even more excited she’ll be making a pit-stop at Madison’s Majestic Theatre on Oct. 26. Fatal Optimist is available on an indie-exclusive opaque turquoise LP.
The Telephone Numbers, Scarecrow II
San Francisco jangle pop band The Telephone Numbers describe themselves as “pure pop for sad people,” which fits them to a tee. They’re signed to Slumberland Records, who have put out music from Peel Dream Magazine, The Reds, Pinks & Purples, The Umbrellas, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and many more. If you’re into any of those bands, The Telephone Numbers will be right up your alley, too, as will their new album, which is available on transparent greenhouse vinyl.
More of our picks
- St. Paul & The Broken Bones, St. Paul & The Broken Bones
- Madison Cunningham, Ace
- Khalid, After the Sun Goes Down
- Emily Sprague, Cloud Time
- Hannah Frances, Nestled in Tangles
- Rhett Miller, A lifetime of riding by night
- Hollie Cook, Shy Girl
Other new albums out Oct. 10
- Aitis Band, Aitis Band
- Avery Tucker, Paw
- Badlands, Nobody Dies
- Breakup Shoes, Standing Still
- Brye, Cycle Breaker Pt. 1 EP
- Charlie Kaplan, A Hat Upon the Bed
- David Garland, The Spark
- dust, Sky is Falling
- feeo, Goodness
- Friendship Commanders, BEAR
- Glass Egg, visions & ecstasies
- Greg Jamie, Across a Violet Pasture
- Guitar, We're Headed To The Lake
- John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band, Power To The People (Live At The One To One Concert —Afternoon & Evening Shows)
- Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, Corporal
- Marni, fml era EP
- Massage, Coaster
- Nightbus, Passenger
- Not For Radio (The Marias' María Zardoya), Melt
- Olivia Barton, For Myself and For You
- Other Lives, Volume V
- Patti Smith, Horses (50th Anniversary)
- Public Service Broadcasting, Night Flight (The Last Flight Remixes)
- Richard Ashcroft, Lovin' You
- Sophia Center, The Kids' Table
- Soul Blind, Red Sky Mourning
- The Antlers, Blight
- The Besnard Lakes, The Besnard Lakes Are the Ghost Nation
- The Ramona Flowers, Made By Humans
- TV Cult, Industry
- Various Artists, Tough Love 20: Don't Do Anything Important With Anybody Else
- villagerrr, Tear Your Heart Out (Reissue)
- Weakened Friends, Feels Like Hell
- Wilby, Center of Affection
- Zero Boys, Playback Is Hell
